Quarry, who recently secured the Canadian Derby (G3) title, was claimed for $80,000 at Churchill Downs in June by owner Henry Witt Jr. and achieved his most significant U.S. win Saturday by pulling off a mild upset in the $250,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. The heavy favorite, Trendsetter, went off at 1-5 odds but finished third, trailing by 1¾ lengths behind runner-up Sav’n Money.
Ridden by Henry Hernandez, Quarry stayed close to the leaders and took a slim lead midway down the backstretch, maintaining it throughout the race. He displayed just enough stamina to hold on and win by three-quarters of a length, clocking 1:52.38 over 1 1/8 miles on a fast track.
Hernandez praised the War of Will gelding’s composure during the race, explaining how he patiently waited before making his move, confident Quarry had the strength to hold off the challengers. Since being claimed, Quarry has steadily advanced through tougher competition, narrowly placing second in the Manitoba Derby on August 3 and then winning the Canadian Derby (G3) on August 22 before heading to Louisiana Downs.
Witt shared that he claimed Quarry because of the horse’s strong physical presence, though his previous races had been average. He trusted his trainer, Jerry Gourneau, whom he regards as the best in the business, to bring out the horse’s potential. Trendsetter, who entered the race after winning the Lexington Stakes (G3) and finishing second in the West Virginia Derby (G3), had a tough start after bumping with Renegade Red at the gate and encountering trouble on the first turn. Despite rallying, Trendsetter could only manage third place.
Jockey Tim Thornton summed up Trendsetter’s run by saying they were chasing the leaders the entire time and simply got outrun. The remainder of the field finished in the order of Emancipation, Marc, Zampino, Renegade Red, and Cocked Pistol. Quarry paid $10.40 to win and improved his career record to 3 wins, 3 seconds, and 5 thirds from 16 starts. Bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm, he is out of the More Than Ready mare Black Dynamite.
Fan Take: Quarry’s rise from a claimed horse to a graded stakes winner highlights the depth of talent and unpredictability in horse racing, proving that with the right training and opportunity, underdogs can shine. This exciting victory adds intrigue and hope for fans who love rooting for unexpected success stories in the sport.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
